https://twitter.com/ardoynegac/status/696634855359193088/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Map showing every GAA club in Ireland. Fairly impressive. The only spots without seem to be mountain ranges!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 08/02/2016 20:10:51    1823696

Yeah and any protestant area which is a big GAA problem thats never been tackled

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 15:31:24    1824429

Yeah and any protestant area which is a big GAA problem thats never been tackled

And yes Ironically the big prize that is awarded every third Sunday in September Sam Maguire was a protestant.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 10/02/2016 15:51:10    1824441

Bloodyban, I don't know if you are trolling or are just extremely naive. I have my suspicions. You are bangng on about Tigers Bay GAA club on one thread and now rattling on about GAA 'problems' in Protestant communitites. Unionist/Loyalists have no interest in playing Gaelic Games, it's no one's 'problem', it's the way it is. Now go and educate yourself about the North or stop acting the eejit.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9693 - 10/02/2016 16:11:50    1824452

And you seem fine with the fact that half your county men feel that they arent welcome in their local GAA club. Here im not trolling i lived in the North for 3 years and enjoyed it. Just the sectarian stuff was holding it back.
Regarding Sam Maguire..One swallow doesnt make a summer. Dont forget Jack Boothman. They stand out like a sore thumb because they are anomolies

bloodyban (Limerick) - Posts: 1710 - 10/02/2016 18:33:11    1824515

Sorry to chime in, but the comment "Just the sectarian stuff was holding it back" has got to be one of the funniest things I've ever read on these pages. Thanks!

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 10/02/2016 18:47:34    1824523

Bloodyban, you are way out of order with that comment .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6030 - 10/02/2016 19:17:16    1824535

Hyde Park, Parnell Park, Sam Maguire, Casement Park. Dozens of clubs called Emmets, Parnells, Tones, plus rarer ones like Thomas Davis or Navan O'Mahonys etc. Yup, it's really anti protestant.

Regarding the north. It's just not gonna happen no matter how hard you try. The majority Loyalists/Unionists by and large view Gaelic games at worst with disdain and at best as an alien game. It's almost insulting to our northern brothers to say anything otherwise, basically tell them "You're just doing it wrong, unionists secretly yearn to play gaelic games and you're the one's stopping them."

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1642 - 10/02/2016 19:25:09    1824540

Pretty stupid bloodyban. I think the GAA in the north has been the sporting organisation that has made the biggest effort to be inclusive. You can't force people to play the sport. Did you think there should be clubs springing up all over the place in unionist communities by now?? Pretty naive. Also, in the context in which you spoke you should say unionist and not protestant, loads of protestants play gaelic games all over ireland.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 11/02/2016 08:19:11    1824585

This thread shows how negativity pervades a lot of things in GAA.

This map shows how phenomenally successful GAA has been and is across Ireland. An organisation, that has many faults yes, but that has spread out to such an amazing extent. The GAA gets an awful lot of negative criticism in the media, some deserved more undeserved, but still has such domination of the sporting landscape of the nation as shown by this map.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13703 - 11/02/2016 09:55:52    1824595

' Just the sectarian stuff was holding it back.'

What does that really mean or Is it the only cliché you can think of?

Oh and btw Ive lived here for over 40 years!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/02/2016 10:01:37    1824597

Mesamis,

You are completely spot on.

There are many countries throughout the world who would love to have organisations like the GAA!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 11/02/2016 10:14:39    1824605

Pretty stupid bloodyban. I think the GAA in the north has been the sporting organisation that has made the biggest effort to be inclusive. You can't force people to play the sport. Did you think there should be clubs springing up all over the place in unionist communities by now?? Pretty naive. Also, in the context in which you spoke you should say unionist and not protestant, loads of protestants play gaelic games all over ireland.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts:1353 - 11/02/2016 08:19:11 1824585

Here Here
My local club is in Dublin West were its fair to say there is a massive amount of foreign national families living in the area , going to local schools etc , we have a membership between adults and juveniles of approx. 300 we have approx. 10-15 members from foreign communities at best , simply put they are not interested in our game and don't want to play our game , those that do there parents cant get their heads around the no money thing .
Ive accompanied other club members GPOs into local schools trying to get kids to sign up and its very difficult .
Because someone doesn't play doesn't mean its the organisations fault .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 11/02/2016 11:04:50    1824622

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/gaa-club-s-integration-policy-pays-off-in-ireland-s-most-ethnically-diverse-town-1.2237262

In my hometown it's probably easier to get kids involved in GAA as there's a high percentage of foreign nationals there. But before there was a lot of foreign nationals we had a Pakistani community and some of them hurled for club and county. It's probably easier for kids and parents in Ballyhaunis for kids to get to the grounds in the edge of town less than a mile away with no traffic. Maybe in urban areas they have the hassle and cost of public transport and heavy traffic to deal with. Or as Damo says they just aren't interested and why should they be? Each to their own. But it's not from lack of initiative from GAA clubs that foreign nationals aren't interested in GAA. I think if the top brass of the GAA moved with the times as well as club members the organisation would be better for it.

I think one motivating factor for kids is that they're definitely interested in trying football or hurling if their classmates are doing it. And the summer Cúl camps are brilliant for getting kids involved.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7324 - 11/02/2016 13:20:36    1824682

My club's goalie is a Scottish born Rangers fan with a flat midland accent! Is he a Protestant? I honestly haven't a clue.

ExLaoistalk (Laois) - Posts: 25 - 15/02/2016 16:27:14    1825569

Fair play to him. Sure what difference does it make where's he's from or what his religion is. It's sport and shouldn't exclude anyone. Though it's easy for me to say that when I've never lived through any conflict caused by religious differences.

As a well-known Dublin broadcaster once wrote 'What kind of God gives you a rod and says you can't go fishing'. I admire people that have faith, but I admire them more when they keep it to themselves and don't try to intimidate or indoctrinate others with their beliefs.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7324 - 15/02/2016 16:41:38    1825577

I dont perceive it as being a problem for the gaa or anyone else if certain parts of the community dont want to play gaa. The unionist population have their own traditional games, such as hockey and badminton. In donegal, quite a few protestants play gaa, and it is not seen as being extraordinary. In other parts of the country, the climate is different, and you cant blame them for not playing. I am not saying it is right or wrong, more that it is a lot more convenient to play other games rather than to go down that road.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 15/02/2016 18:37:08    1825617

There are many examples of protestants playing gaa games in the north and south- many more watch the games from what I'm told even though I do not expect a club to spring up any time soon in the shankill soon (maybe the Dublin Shankill!). People's religion are there own business. The map shows that the smallest number of clubs are in Fermanagh with Leitrim second smallest number all very interesting. As other posters have noted you can tell where the mountains are by the blank space of no clubs. Cork has the greatest number.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 16/02/2016 10:05:02    1825672